Which formulation is more likely to have high drift potential?

The formulation with the highest drift potential is ultra-low volume (ULV) pesticide formulations. These products are designed to deliver a small volume of active ingredient in a highly concentrated form, often as fine droplets. This fine droplet size is effective for targeting pests but significantly increases the chances of drift during application. Drift occurs when these small droplets can be carried away by the wind to unintended areas, posing risks to non-target organisms and the environment.

Wettable powders, flowables, and granules do not exhibit the same level of drift potential as ULV formulations. Wettable powders need to be mixed with water and require adequate spray pressure to achieve the proper dispersion, which can limit droplet size. Flowables typically create larger droplets compared to ULV formulations, while granules are solid particles that are less prone to drift because they remain on the ground and do not aerosolize into the air. Understanding the differences in formulation helps applicators make informed choices regarding the potential for pesticide drift and how to mitigate it during application.